Retired military generals have the tendency to think, talk and act as if they were still fully active in their career.
This is understandable because they have spent many decades of their career based on single doctrine where high discipline and loyalty are the rules of the game, and differences are intolerable. So after they retired, many of them have difficulties in adapting with civilian life.
According to The Jakarta Globe several retired generals led by ex Army Chief of Staff (Ret) General Tyasno Sudarto, have joint forces with violent organizations that claimed to be acting in the name of Islam a.o. FPI, and threaten to incite religious violence and overthrow the democratically elected President SBY.
The other ex Generals were Gen. (ret.) Fahrul Razi, a former deputy chief of staff.Maj. Gen. (ret.) Muchdi Purwoprandjono, former commander of the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus); and Maj. Gen. (ret.) Kivlan Zen, former commander of the Army’s Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad).
It is very sad to know that those retired generals whom I highly respect because of lots of good things they have contributed for our country, would ever want to tolerate any violent actions.
On the one hand I hope that they would change their minds and adopt more peaceful ways to make their voices heard by the government, for example by joining political parties and run as candidate for election.
On the other hand I hope that the government would maintain good relationship with those ex generals and explain their policies to them.
14 comments:
sungguh disayangkan ya. saran saya sih tanggapi dengan santai aja. :D
Generals are the sword of the state. Their mission is to defend the territorial integrity of the nation against violent threats from outside. In peacetime they should stay in the barracks as it comes to their authority. Their loyalty should be with the legal government.
Retired generals are no generals. They are civilians. And should act en be treated like all common civilians.
Ex generals who were active in a dictatorship and conspire against a democratic government call for special attention however. History elsewhere in the world shows they crave for the "order" of the old days and for power to settle the scores. And they usually claim their ( planned) high treason is a bit to save the country really . Their solution usually is a Junta ( of generals) and dictatorship.
To "correct" their ways they should be treated with "firmly" -like any citizen who would act in the way they do.
They should be (re-)educated in democratic citizenship. The way it is it seems general Tyasno and his pals haven't even understood the first chapter of that book.
Thanks for the brain storms. It has been fun to let it all hang out. This was a no-holds-barred mental jamboree that will be missed.
Wedding Dresses
Very nice , I shall try.. Well deserved! I really enjoy your blog and am impressed by your finds. Keep it up!
Sweet memories.
no wonder the government did not have the power to disband the FPI.
This is just my discourse, but FPI makes me uncomfortable when I saw the news that there is some violences that has been done by this organization.
now we can fully understand why oh why those people do not wish to step down even after years of sitting on the same position...
I agree entirely with colson.
It does seem to me that the issue
is not only confined to the old generals alone
Old dictators who have long rescinded their powers continue to demand that things be done according to their way. Sometimes out of nowhere they issue some controversial statements and
publish an autobiography or two..
just so that the world will not
"miss" their voice.
They are "right" in everything they do and we ingrates have forgotten about their past "contributions."
Some people still miss the attention it seems.
i agree with u'rs, keep posting :D
Motivasi
@TUKANG CoLoNG,
Mereka mungkin hanya perlu perhatian extra dari pemerintah.
@Colson,
Before May 1998, ex Generals were given special positions e.g in parliament, other institutions, state own companies, ambassadors to foreign countries, etc.
After that they became ordinary civilians. That's why they tried to draw government's attention.
There is no need to over react.
@ReBorn,
That's why it is difficult to understand why the retired generals want to join forces with the FPI.
@Ria/The Dream Catcher,
Yeah I think you are right.
@Bear Wife,
Actually this matter is not important if the government has not over reacted. It's like building mountain of mole hill.
@Sekedar Goresanku,
Thank you.
Mas Harry, I agree with our blogger friend Colson's comments mentioned above. I need your great comments on my blog . Arigato makasih !
Yah, I think they're need more attention from Government. Thanks Harry for sharing this.
@Utomo,
Thank you for your comment.
@Deasy,
Yes, attention is what they really need.
@ Harry: There is never reason to over react indeed. But plotting generals, even retired generals, are a real liability. There is a corps d'ésprit in many armies, a band of brothers feeling, which provides ex-colleagues, the likes of Tyasno, with possibilities to exert influence in the army.
So there is no need over to react. Nor should one underestimate the threat. Nor the brashness of the public courting of violent organizations.
ou made me remember, when my father retired (pension) from civil servant, he undergo post power syndrome until 2 years after that...fortunately he have new activity now :)
@Anonymous,
Thank you for your comment, but I prefer that you mention your name and blog so that we can be friends.
@Colson,
I agree that they should not be underestimated considering very strong military camaraderie although they have retired.
They key would be approaching them so that they would not be felt left behind, as if they have no meaning at all.
@Aulawy,
I am glad to hear about your father. My father was also like that few years after retirement.
Civil servants are the same.
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